The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-12-22

COuCH again., NnCh oohAo AAANaAANs 1872
bumped against his door, He turned his
head to take Indifferent heed of the fact,
but not an instant for conjeCturing was al
lowed him. Awoman's voice pleading and
screaming, a woman's hands fumbling and
pound ng, brought him up to reel and
stagger directly to her.
He undid the fastenings and she few in
side like deer, Immediately bracing her
self against the door.
Lock this door quick" she pleaded
mo lock to it." explained Steve, replacing
his seasoned bars in their sockets Got to
bar it this way, wasn't old Vanderbilt
when put up this palace Couldn't afford
fancy nickel and iron work :"
He sat down suddenly on the end OF his
couch
snow hide me, she demanded, letting the
cloak fall OFF her head and piercing him
with the largest, blacklist eyes he had ever
seen
sGe-whizzl" calculated Steve, bracing
himself up with his hands on the po,es at
each side Of him where could hide you
in this placer Look up, and there's the
holler OF the roof Look around and there's
the logs"
whats In the trunk?'
''NIighty little of any thing. When l
recollect what used to be in that trunk when
l first came into the woods, and what amt
in it now. it makes me feel bad.
The woman threw up the lid and crouched
inside. So quickly had her whisking
drspery disappeared that Steve wondered
if he were in one of his walking dreams
which of summer nights sometimes lured
him ont of his cabin into the woods She
kept the lid moment raised to whisper
through the opening:
Don't let him get me-oh don't let him
get mel"
ANY fellow that would chase any thing
through this snow" observed Barrymore,
@must be keen for hunt You didn't foot
it from tine station, did your
She had lowered the trunk lid, but raised
1t again to make a crack through which
she replied
Il waded up the mountain, into the
woods, as fast as / could wade To hide
somewhere from that man"
what fellow is itin inquired Steve
The trunk lid rose again softly, and her
voice Kissed through:
1T is satan!"
,"rll bet peck of potatoes, said Steve,
shat Pm dreamin' all this Ny heads as
light as feather, and it just blows from
side TO side FL put on another chunk Of
wood and get some light on the subject"
As he set some roots to blazing. their light
spread over his face like wave Of merri-
ment
''This is more fun than going to the ball, I"
he murmured I'm having Christmas doin's
right here to home Guess I'll load my
gun-.f there's huntin' tonight"
He reached for his gun-case, took out its
shining barrels, which were polished like
silver, and began to fit the parts together,
laying his cartridges ready for Insertion
The artistic part of the lone mans house
keeping was his care of his gun No maid
loved her ornaments more, no matron
devoted more on hair looms in sterling
silver than Steve on his gun His best
shirts had gone towards rubbing 1t to its
present high perfection.
As before, there was first muffied bump
against the door and then prolonged rap
ping
Who's thereg" cried the lone man. The
trunk quite closed, as if its inmate pre-
ferred smothering to discovery.
-The law of the State Of California" re-
turned robust voice.
sWhat does the law want?"
sit wants this door opened"
sThe laws like me-" observed the lone
man. ut wants heap OF things it don't
getr
There's a woman in this cabin"
First time one ever saw the inside Of it
then
~ saw the door opened"
Eyes, often look Quito see what tinAs
O. n ght it is, said Steve.
open and let me in, commanded his be-
aio aIir, not hara IN naripy "
IF you amt got any errand, you better
put out again. suggested the lone man
This is my cabin and my claim I.hain't
sent out any cards amt to home"
The outsider uttered some resounding
eentences When these settled to the level
of threatening they pointed out such dan
gers as the following:
why, / can kick your miserable door
down can knock the chinking out of the
walls and shoot you through the cracks !
can get on your roof and stamp it through.
May be you could build better house
than I've got,r said Steve, with sarcasm
"You don't know what you're doing. And
you don't want to get into trouble with a
man like me. have the law. on my side /
want my wife out of this cabin and I'm
going to have her OUT
@Nice husband you must be, Mr. Law, .
said the lone man, TO be out with gun
tracking your wife through the snow like
as ii she was rabbit
At this the outsider set his heel nightly
against the door The wooden bars held it;
but Steve saw them with the repeated kicks
loosenng in their sockets. He lifted his
ready gun to his eye, but lowered it with a
growl and shake of his head He felt strong
and angry. His weakness and nausea were
gone His blood shot like fire through its
courses, and he felt ready for emergency.
Emergency in the shape of big, furious
man soon burst the door in
"Now you've done it, said Steve, standing
between the trunk and his antagonist, and
holding his gun up, you see what I've got
for you" -.
The strangers eyes were glowing, and
his breath short with the effort he Ind
made. Snow, driving behind him, whirled
far into the cabin He held his hands in
the pockets Of tremendous great coat He
and Steve, like knights who have just
shocked in tournament. stood staring at
each other without moving muscle Tho
stranger rnally withdrew his gaze for one
sweep around the cabin.
@W,.ere Is sheg"
/ Don't let us have no more trouble, y
reasoned Steve "You amt goin, to get her
IL she don't want you to- She asst me to
stand between. and I'm going to do it"
All tha uncontrolled passions Of the pur-
/ suer blazed in his face. That pair of black
eyes staring through minute crack in the
trunk, saw him snatch his right hand from
his pocket and fling 1t forward and the butt
end.of Steve's gun simultaneously striking
it back The pistol report was in his own
brain She never had doubt Of what wni
done The whole thing was distinct, posi-.
tive, swift like bolt OF lightning down the
sky The mans body came down with .
thump upon steves earthen floor.
Before steva's mind received an impress
sion. quite q minute before he could fran,
| words With h:s lips, che was eut ef III